Warning-signal for automobiles and the like.



APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1913.

Patented Feb. 2.2, 1916.

' JWnesses SALVATORE sooGNAMILto, 0F new ronic, N. Y.

WARNING-SIGNAL FOR-AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Itetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application filed September 5, 1913. Serial No. 788,334.

York and Stateof New York, have inventednew and useful Improvements inWarmng- Signals for Automobiles and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a horn, or signaling apparatus adaptedfor use on automobiles, boats and oth'erdevices of that type which is manually operated, in contradistinction to motor operated devices of this class; and the primary object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means whereby a rotary motion imparted to a prime actuating device by a direct manual pull or actuation will be transmitted to a diaphragm with increased operating efliciency and advantage from a standpoint of momentum and set up a strong and practical vibration of the diaphragm to produce a warning tone or signal.

A further object of the invention is to provide hand-actuated means for setting up a Vibration of a diaphragm through the medium of a toothed wheel or analogous device cooperating with the diaphragm at an increased rate of speed relatively to the primary impulse imparted to the device through manual operation and also to cause said toothed wheel to have a bodily whirling movement while rotating to effectively engage a portion of the diaphragm with an advantageous vibrating impact.

With'these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed. a

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a greater portion of a warning or signaling device embodying thev features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 2 2, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig.3 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 33, Fig. 1, also looking in the direc-- tion of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a transverse ver tical section taken in the plane of the line 4-4:, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The numeral 5 designates a suitable inclosing casing having an interior supporting frame or brace device 6 and a rear center bearing 7. A resonator 8 is suitably attached to the front extremity of the casing 5 against a. diaphragm 9 having the usual center projection 10 extending rearwardly therefrom. The diaphragm 9 is held at its periphery between a securing flange 11 of the resonator and a flange 12 of an annular gear13. .The'interior frame or brace 6 has a center bearing enlargement ll with sockets ment 14 a shaft 17 is rotatably mounted and provided with antifrictional ball and cone devices 18 and 19 fitting in the sockets 15 and 16 ,to provide a free operation or antifrictional movement of the shaft 17. The front counter-balancing disk 20 from which two arms 21 and 22 forwardly project, the arm 21 having an upright sleeve 23 at its 'forward extremity and the arm 22 having a bearing socket 24 at its forward extremity below and in line with the said sleeve; and 111 the sleeve 23 and socket 24 a counter-shaft 25 is rotatably mounted. The counter-shaft 25 has a pinion 26 secured on its upper end and held in continual mesh with the teeth of the gear 13, and also'fixed on the said shaft between the sleeve 23. and socket 2 is a toothed wheel or diaphragm vibrating means 27 which is held in continual engagement with the projection 10 of the diaphragm; The rear extremity of the shaft has a ratchet wheel 28 mounted thereon and is engaged by a part of the prime operating mechanism manually actuated as will now be described. 7

In the bearing 7 one end of a stub shaft 29 is screwed or otherwise secured in alinement with the rear end of the shaft 17, and thereonv is fixed a barrel or arbor 30, see

.Fig. 4, to which the inner end of a spring pull-strap or band 31 is made fast and coiled therearound. The barrel or arbor is a part of adrum 32 and both are loose on the shaft, The free extremity of the band or strap 31 1s passed through a slot 33 in the casing 5 and is provided with a terminal grippin dewith the hand and drawn outwardly, preferably by a quick motion, and by this means the drum 32 is rotated. and through the pawl or dog 35 engaging the ratchet wheel 28 the shaft 17 and all the parts carried thereby are likewise rotated. Theshaftl? is given considerable momentum by the fiy-wheel or counter-balance disk '20, the latter having weight that may be varied as desired. The rotation of the shaft 17 and fiy-Wheel 20 with the arms 21 and 22 carrying the shaft 25, pinion 26 and toothed wheel or diaphragm vibrating, means 27, causes the said shaft 25 to bodily rotate around the outer extremity of the shaft 17 and gives a rapid rotation to the wheel or diaphragm vibrating means 27 through the engagement of the pinion 26 with the annular fixed gear 13 on its axis. Hence, the toothed wheel or diaphragm vibrating means 27 is both bodily rotated and axially rotated, and as a consequence the teeth thereof strike the projection 10 in varying angular positions and set up a strong vibration. of the diaphragm and produce a loud and prolonged warning tone or signal. A single pull or operation of the strap or band 31 will cause the mechanism to effectually operate, but repeated pulls thereof in succession, after release to allow the strap or band to return to normal position, will give a stronger and longer warning signal or sound. After the strap or band 31 is released it automatically coils itself in the drum 32 on the barrel or arbor 30 and is thereby always in position for operation. Though the spring strap or band 31 and the drum 32 are preferred as the prime operating or motive means, the remaining mechanism is not limited in its operation to said mechanism, and it is pro-- posed to use an T other prime motor mech anism adapted or the purpose. The improved Warning signal is economical in its operation, and the several parts are of a strong and durable character. The association of the parts is such that they will not become displaced and the device as a whole is consequently rendered sure in its operation.

In'my copending application Serial No. 832,313, allowed December 22, 1914, I have incorporated the broader claims covering corresponding subject-matter in the present application and as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings. The claims of the present application are therefore drawn to cover the specific differences of construction and other differences in construction and arrangement of parts relatively to the foregoing disclosure.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A signaling device embodying a diaphragm and an actuating member for the diaphragm having a rotary movement about an axis parallel to the diaphragm and contacting constantly with the same portion of the diaphragm and another rotary movement about an axis at right angles to the diaphragm.

2. A signaling apparatus embodying a diaphragm, an actuating mechanism having rotary toothed contacting means constantly engaging the same portion of the diaphragm mechanism being provided with means for rotating the toothed contacting device and its axis about an axis at right angles to the diaphragm.

4:. A signaling apparatus embodying a diaphragm, an actuating mechanism for the diaphragm comprising a toothed device with a shaft, the said device havinga rotary movement about an axis parallel to the diaphragmand held in constant engagement with the same portion of the latter, the shaft of the said rotary device being positively rotated and the device and its shaft'also unitedly rotated in a direction at right angles to the path of rotation of the said device on its shaft.

5. A signaling apparatus embodying a diaphragm having a projection and an actuating mechanism comprising a portion constantly contacting with the projection of the diaphragm and rotating about an axis parallel to the diaphragm, the axis being positively driven and the said portion and axis also being unitedly rotatable at right angles to the path of rotation of the device on its axis while the said actuating mechanism as a whole is in motion.

6. A. signaling apparatus embodying a diaphragm, and actuating mechanism comprising a member having peripheral devices for constantly engaging; the same portion of the diaphragm, the said rotary member being driven to impart av positive individual rotation thereto about an axis parallel to the diaphragm and the actuating mechanism including the said member rotatable as a whole at right angles to the individual rotation of said member to cause the peripheral devices of said member to tivaoae simultaneously rotate in a plane at right angles and in a plane parallel to the diaphragm.

7. A signaling apparatus embodying a diaphragm, bodily rotating mechanism for effecting actuation of the diaphragm and provided with a rotary device constantly engaging the same part of the diaphragm, said device being held by and movable within a I portion of the said mechanism and provided with a distinct axis on which said device is positively rotated at a. high rate of speed in a plane at right angles to the diaphragm and a fixed means for causing said device to rotate on its axis.

8. In a warning signal of the class specified, the combination of a diaphragm having a projection, a resonator in advance of the diaphragm, an annular gear in rear of the diaphragm and close to the latter, a 1'0- tating momentum means, a shaft carried by the free extremity of and rotatable with the momentum=means and having a pinion engaging said annular gear and also a toothed wheel projecting into a portion of the momentum means and through the annular gear and held in engagement with the project-ion of the diaphragm, and means for operating the momentum means to cause the pinion of the shaft to traverse the annular gear and set up a rotation of thetoothed wheel.

9. In a warning signal of the class specified, the combination of a diaphragm having a projection, a resonator, an annular toothed gear fixed adjacent to the diaphragm, a momentum means provided with mechanism for operating the same, and a shaft mounted in the free extremity of the momentum means and having gear devices respectively engaging the annular gear and the projection of the diaphragm, the shaft and the gear devices being rotatable with the momentum means and also in another direction -relatively to the direction of movement" of the momentum means.

10. In a Warning signal of the class specified, the combination with a diaphragm having a projection, of a rotary momentum means provided with mechanism for operating the same, a toothed wheel carried in the free extremity of the said momentum means and rotated in the said means continuously ,with the rotation of the said momentum of the diaphragm engaged, and mechanism for operating said device embodying a resilient self-winding pull-band having a nor-' mal wound condition, said band being un-,

wound to operate said mechanism and toothed device, said band resuming its normal wound condition when released without movably affecting the said toothed device.

12. In a Warning signal, a diaphragm, a toothed device having a rotation to bring the teeth thereof into successive engagement with a portion of thediaphragm and also movable in a circle relatively to the portion of the diaphragm engaged, and mechanism for operating'said device embodying a selfwinding spring pull-band having a normal wound condition, said band being unwound to operate the mechanism and toothed device, the band automatically resuming its normal condition when released without affecting the toothed device.

a 13. In a warning signal, a casing, a diaphragm in the casing, a rotating toothed device engaging a portion of the diaphragm, and mechanism for operating said device and comprising a normally coiled resilient band having an extremity projecting through the casing for hand-operation which of itself serves as the means for automatically restoring the operating mechanism to normal position without affecting the rotating toothed device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SALVATORE SCOGNAMILLU. Witnesses:

JOHN L. FLETCHER, MARGARET E. DILLER. 

